Screenwriter Nicole Perlman: 'No one is remaking Labyrinth'

Those who were anticipating a Labyrinth remake – eagerly or otherwise – can let down their guard: proposed screenwriter Nicole Perlman has denied any involvement, and has taken offence that she could be seen to be profiting from David Bowie's death.

Reports that a new film, based on the 1986 Jim Henson caper that memorably starred Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King, would be made circulated last week. The Hollywood Reporter claimed that a deal had been made with Jim Henson co to "produce a new iteration", and Perlman, who co-wrote Guardians of the Galaxy, would write the script.

Entertainment Weekly also wrote that the new film would be a "sequel to the original, not a reboot."

But while Perlman claims she had a meeting with Henson Co in "late 2014", no more developments have been made, especially not in the context of Bowie's death earlier in January. She told The Guardian that her talks with Henson were about another project, and that neither she nor the Henson company would want to profit from Bowie's death.

"All I can say is that the timing for the story was awful; it felt like a punch in the gut," she said.

"Bowie’s music helped me through some of the hardest times of my life. I respect him as a musician, an actor, an icon and, most importantly, as a human being. It would have been a dream come true, to write something for him.”

She posted on Twitter, "I would never seek to profit from Bowie's death", adding: "Labyrinth is my favorite film from childhood, so I share your concerns that any continuation of the world be handled with love and respect."

Finally, she urged fans not to "fall for all the clickbait". "No one is remaking Labyrinth. That movie is perfect as it is."